Today on Museum Bites we’re continuing our tour through the Dennos Museum Center’s delightful collection of Inuit art. Life within the Arctic Circle is a bone-chilling affair, but through hard work and longstanding traditions, the Inuit have carved out a cozy and communal existence. Join me for a stroll through this fascinating exhibit and along the way, we’ll learn more about the life, land, and lore of the Inuit. We begin with the humble igloo…

Igloo by Artokto, Dennos Museum Center, Photo by cjverb (2018)

Snow Dome: This charming little igloo by Artokto portrays Inuit ingenuity. Snow is plentiful in the Arctic and these snow-block homes can be constructed within a few short hours. Designed to accommodate a single family, igloos were built in the winter and situated near the sea for convenient hunting and fishing. Retaining walls and a sealskin flap kept biting winds at bay, and a small hole in the roof provided ventilation. Inside a small stove was used to burn seal or whale blubber and thick pelts made for a cozy interior.

Drawing of interior of an igloo (1916), U.S. Library of Congress

Temperatures inside the igloo averaged around freezing (i.e., 32° F or 0° C). This may seem chilly until you go outside where winter temps can plummet to -30°F (-34°C). Add to that anywhere from 1 to 160 days of darkness, and the inside of an igloo seems downright balmy. When they were not out hunting, the Inuit rode out the dark frigid winters tucked inside telling stories and playing games (click on Museum Bites: Survival Games to learn more). During the short summer months, the Inuit moved inland and into tents while their winter homes conveniently melted away. Arctic summers are ablaze in sunlight (30 to 180 days when the sun does not set) and temperatures can reach a scorching 54° F (12° C). Click on this BBC Studios: How to Build an Igloo video clip to learn more about igloo construction.

Fun Musical Fact: Inuit throat singing is a popular game typically played by two women. One takes the lead by setting a vocal rhythm, while the other echoes back the vocal beat. The object of the game is to outlast one’s opponent. The first one to laugh or break the rhythm loses. Click on this Inuit Throat Singing clip for a listen.

The Sentinel by John Terriak. Dennos Museum Center, Photo by cjverb (2018)

Inunnguaq, Photo by Wonita Janzen, Pixabay

Arctic Buoy: The Arctic Circle is blanketed in snow and ice eight months out of the year. The terrain is rocky and the sparse vegetation consists of shrub-like trees. The Inuit have created clever guideposts called Inuksuit to help navigate this barren expanse. John Terriak’s, The Sentinel is modeled after a specific type of Inuksuit called an Inunnguaq or “person substitute”. These arctic buoys resemble a person standing with outstretched arms and have become a popular symbol associated with the Inuit. The Inunnguaq is part of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics logo and is also featured on the Canadian Territory of Nunavut flag.

I Am the Walrus: The Dancing Bear (1986) by Pauta Saila is a delightful depiction of a bear shimmying to a beat. Dancing and singing with wild abandon, this whimsical beast manifests the Inuit belief that animals and humans “were once one”. Animism, the belief that a spirit lies within everyone and everything, is a common theme in Inuit art. Animals are portrayed with human qualities and vice versa. Crazy Man by Kelly Pishuktee is an example of a shaman, transforming into a polar bear. Notice his fanged teeth and paws on his right hand and foot. The Inuit believed shamans could transform into animals to perform mystical tasks such as communing with the spirits to resolve conflicts, heal the sick, and guarantee a good hunt. Once their mystical duties were complete, shamans returned to their human form.

A Bugs Life: Despite healthy amounts of snow and ice, brutal temps, and little vegetation or sunlight, the Arctic is home to a variety of badass bugs. For example, the Arctic bumblebee is plumper and furrier than its southern cousins. It can also heat itself up to 60° degrees warmer than the outside temperature by twitching its powerful wings. This self-heating system is an example of evolution at its finest! A Strong Bee (1981) by Apitak Sanguya is a fanciful representation of these amazing bees. In addition to bumblebees, the Arctic is host to a fair number of creepy crawlies including mosquitoes (Yes, even in the Arctic you cannot escape mosquitoes!), midges, beetles, weevils, worms, and spiders.

Pop Art: Since the 1950s, western culture has slowly crept into Inuit life. Dog sleds have been traded in for ATVs or snowmobiles, permanent houses are favored over igloos, and access to the internet, cable TV, and smartphones is gradually increasing. Annie Pootoogook’s Brief Case (2005) is an Inuit spin on Pop Art. This art movement emphasizes everyday objects (think: Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s soup cans) and was first introduced in the United States and Europe in the 1950s and 1960s.

Despite this influx of technology, the Inuit have continued to honor and preserve their traditions. In 1999, the Canadian government established the Nunavut Territory—nunavut means “our land” in Inukitut. This vast northern expanse includes traditional Inuit lands. In keeping with Inuit tradition, the territory is governed by a legislature whose members do not belong to a political party. Instead, governance is achieved through consensus.

That concludes our tour through the Dennos Museum Center’s collection of Inuit art. Next week, we’ll mosey into the modern art wing and take in a few treasures. In the meantime, have a fantastic week!

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Published by CJ Verb

CJ Verb writes Museum Bites, a weekly travel blog featuring an eclectic assortment of exhibits, historical sites, and quirky bits of history. She is the author of It’s Just Kindergarten…Isn’t It? and a docent at the Michigan State University Museum. CJ Verb has been a member of Capital City Writers Association since 2014, and on the Executive Board since 2015. She fancies cheesy 1970s sci-fi, road trips, yoga, all things Star Trek and Monty Python…because let’s face it, “strange women lying in ponds, distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.” You can find her at https://cjverb.com/.
View all posts by CJ Verb